Rhodri Morgan entered the final week of Assembly business before May's election by squaring up to an old adversary - General Apathy.

Yesterday, in his final press conference of the Assembly's four-year term, the First Minister returned to an anecdote he used to launch Welsh Labour's 2005 election campaign.

He underlined the need to get Labour's core vote out on May 3 as he seeks to renew his mandate and make it to his planned retirement date of 2009. The focus was on shoring-up Labour's natural support, not trying to convert Tory sympathisers, he said.

In a characteristic turn of phrase, he compared Labour voters' tendency to take Labour rule for granted with the Russian winter that repelled Napoleon. Mr Morgan, pictured, said, 'I think it was Napoleon who was asked 'Which Russian generals do you fear most?' when he was starting on the march on Russia, and he said, 'General February'.

'And he was right, too.

'What is my fear? It is General Apathy really, in the sense that it is harder for Labour than the other parties to get our vote out.' Much of what has so far emerged of Labour's policy platform has been squarely aimed at natural Labour voters, such as the promise of free childcare for two-year-olds in poor parts of Wales.

'It's not to persuade Tories to vote Labour. I mean, I'm very happy if Tories do vote Labour in the elections, and I shall use all my winsome charms to try to persuade them that they should be changing their minds. But that's not the issue. That's one in 1,000 at the very most. Our job is to get the Labour vote out and overcome apathy, and that's the reason for my appeal to the foot-sloggers.'

Mr Morgan said it was 'a miracle' he had got his manifesto and his budgets approved by the Assembly, despite Labour losing its majority through a defection in 2005. He paid credit to the discipline and attendance of his AMs who have helped him cling on to power, despite the Opposition having the combined might to oust the Assembly Government if it wanted.

'I think it is a miracle that we have survived without damage to the implementation of our manifesto commitments,' he said. 'That was naturally the main concern that we had - would the other parties be able to stop us implementing our manifesto commitments?'

Declining party membership 'was a pattern right throughout the Western world' which Labour was not immune to as it approached the election. He said the Welsh election was not a 'referendum' on the next general election, but said he expected 'assistance from VIP guests' when asked if the Prime Minister would be joining the Assembly campaign.

Although there had been '100 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom before Tony Blair', he, Rhodri, was Wales's first First Minister.

'I'm not going to give it up without a struggle, but I don't want to go too long either,' he said. 'I don't envisage doing this job when I'm 70, but I would love the chance to do it for another two years, two years and a bit or whatever after the next election.'

He underlined his commitment to the job and spelled out his desire to carry on. 'I have no health problems that in any way restrict my ability to do the job. I think my stamina in getting round Wales and in carrying out engagements and speeches and getting all the work done of being First Minister - it's a challenge, of course it's a challenge.